Car door and steps.



MSW W J. KING.

OAR DOOR AND STEPS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.13, 1913.

1,1 05,202, Patented July 28, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 3 4 Z L I v /oZ 1 E 24 EB F71 A1 O 2 o Z O 1' o o a I D i I Z Z QWMW/ 4/ 3 f 4/ J/m K017 Z /a J. KING. GAR DOOR AND STEPS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13,1913.

1,105,202. Patented July 28, 1914.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2 '4 9c 6 62 .j /m mm C 5M 85%) J. KING.

CAR DOOR AND STEPS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1913.

1,105,202, Patented July 28, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 SW I 3% THE NORRIS PET'ERS CO.. PHQTO LI'IHO- WASHINGTON, D.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KING, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNGR 0F ONE-HALF TO OFSPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

I. I. SHOEMAKEB,

CAR DOOR AND STEPS. R

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane,

may be caught between the door and the jamb.

A further object of my invention is provide mechanism for operating one more doors at the same time as the steps.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for preventing the conductor from giving a signal to the motorman to proceed until the doors are closed and the steps pulled in.

A. still further object of my invention is to provide a car having the particular arrangement of doors hereinafter described.

A final object of my invention resides in the particular arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear end of a car arranged accordmgto my inventiom.

and equipped with mechanism made according to my invention, showing the steps in extending position and the doors open. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the doors and steps closed. Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the mechanism for operating the doors and steps. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail view looking from beneath the car and showing the mechanism used to operate the riser portion of the step. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the position assumed when the riser is drawn beneath the car. Fig. '7 is an elevational. view, looking in the direction of the arrow Y on Fig. 5, and illustrating the mechanism as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a View taken from beneath the car of that portion of Fig. 3 inclosed within the line 8-8. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the door operating mechanism taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t d J 23, 1 14 Application filed September 13, 1913. Serial No. 789,635.

Fig. 10 is a central vertical section taken through the'preferred form of air valve. Flg. 11 is a horizontal section on the line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective of the device used in the valve shown in Fig; 10. Fig. 13 is a detail of the mechanism used to clamp the "bell cord, showing the bell cord 3. Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the bell cord clamp. Fig. 15 is a sectional view in detail taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 14. I

Throughout the separate views the same part is designated by the same reference character." v

Referring more particularly tothe draw-' ings, 1 represents the body of a car, such as is used in street railway and suburban traffic, having the outlet doorway 2 and the inlet doorway 3, both of which are at the rear end of the car, as shown, and which are separated by a wall panel approximately the same width as each of the two doorways,

and which is indicated by reference char acter 4. The doors for the doorways 2 and 3 are designated as 5 and6, respectively, and it will be understood that when the doors 5 and'ti are opened, they slide behind the panel 4. Through the open doorway 2 in Fig. 1 will be seen a railing 7 which forms a cage for the conductor and which separates the inlet doorway 3fron1 the outlet doorway 2, a handleS of an air valve which is designedto control the operation of the doors and steps and bell and an upright 9 whichis provided for hand operation in, case the air operated mechanism should get out of order.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3

and 4, 10 and ,11 are the steps which are carried by an iron bar 12 which is formed to present a step-like shape near one end thereof and which extendstransversely' of the car close underneath thefloor, the major portion of the bar 12 being straight. The bar 12 is guided by members 18 and14, the

bar 12 being provided witha slide 15 which for regulating its length, such as a turn buckle 21.

Air or other fluid for operating the piston 16 is provided to the cylinder 17 through pipes 22 and 23 which are clearly shown in Fig. 3. These pipes extend up through the floor of the car and at the upper ends thereof are indicated in Fig. 10 where they connect with the valve 24. The valve 24 com-' prises a flat, disk-like base 26 through which .the pipes 22 and 23 are led and a case 27 which rests on the portion 26 and which is affixed thereto by means of bolts. The portion 27 is provided with a circular recess 28 within which is the valve member 29. The valve member 29 is shown in perspective in Fig. 12 and is provided with two parallel ridges or flanges 30-30- on its upper face forming a groove in which is adapted to slide a block 31, shown in Fig. 10. The block 31 is provided with a central aperture into which projects a pin 32 which is carried on a disk 33 and quite removed from the center thereof. The disk 33 is centrally mounted at the lower end of a rod or stem 34, the upper end of which is squared as shown at 35 to receive the handle 8, previously mentioned, the handle 8 being provided with a latch 8 by which it may be locked in opened or closed position. The upper face of the member 26 is provided with two segmental projections 3636 which leave between them a central groove or passage in which the valve member 29 is adapted to slide. Moreover, the block 29 is provided with a recess37 on its under face which is adapted to overlie the upper ends of the pipes 22 and 23. It will be understood that a port such as 38 is provided in the disk 26 through which air or other fluid under pressure is introduced into the chamber or recess 28. Moreover, the disk 26 is provided with a central port 39 which connects with an exhaust pipe 40. Consequently, it will be seen that when the valve member 29 is in the position shown in Fig. 10, the pipe 22, and consequently the outer end of the cylinder 17, will be connected to the atmosphere, while fluid or air under pressure will be admitted to the pipe 23 and thence to the inner end of the cylinder 17 to force forward the piston 16 and advance the steps into position for use. When, however, the handle 8 is turned, the pin 32 will be moved owing to its eccentric position and the position of the valve member 29 varied accordingly to control the piston 16 in the manner desired.

Associated with the steps 10 and 11 is a riser 41 which is carried at the outer end of the two rods 42 which are suspended by straps such as 43 and 44 beneath the slide 45 which are mounted for a reciprocatory movement in guides 46-46. The rods 42 are mounted one on each side of the rod 12,

* previously mentioned, and at the two ends the twisting or turning effect on the slides 45.

The rods 42 are movable relatively to the slides 45 and have a less range of movement so that the lower step 10 may be pulled in even with the side of the car while the riser 41 is permitted to remain in the same vertical plane. Consequently I have arranged the mechanism so that the riser 41 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 until the steps are about half way out, and then proceeds to move out with the steps and take its proper position in relation to the tread. These movements of the riser are produced as follows :Each of the bars 42 is turned up at its inner end as shown at 49, while each of the guides 46 carries a lug such as 50 which contacts with the turned up ends 49 when the steps are in extended position. Each slide 45 carries a lug 51 which is placed inwardly from the lugs 50 and consequently precedes the end 49 of the rod 42 on its inward movement. Eachof theguides 46 has affixed thereto on its under side a bar 52 to which is pivoted, at the point 53, a lever 54, shown in Fig. 7. The lever 54 is bent upwardly as shown at 55 in Fig. 7, and also bent to one side into the form of a hook as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As the lug 51 moves inwardly it contacts with the lever 54 and said hook shaped portion and pushes it to one side. The lug 51 is followed by the end 49; and the end 49 of the rod 42 passes by the end 55 of the lever 54 until it strikes the.

end of the bar 52, at the point 56, when, however, this occurs, the rod 42 is stopped but the lug 51 continues to move inward with the slide 45. Immediately after the shoulder 56 has stopped the end 49, the lug 51 presses on the lever. 42 on the other side of its pivot from the end 55, and pushes said end over into position to hook into the end 49 of the rod 42. When the steps are to be opened, 55 will hold 49 locked until the lug 51 releases the lever 54 and presses 55 away from the slide 45. Thus the riser 41 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 until the steps are about half way out, and is then operated by contact with the bent portion of the rod 12, so that it takes its proper position in relation to the tread.

I also provide mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3, 8 and 9 for operating the doors at the same time as the steps. Such mechanism comprises a cross piece 57 which is pivotally mounted at the, end of the bar 58, the latter member being fixed to the member 59, as best shown in Fig. 8. The member 47 runs beneath one end of the cross piece 57, while the member 59 runs beneath the other end thereof. The last mentioned member 59 is fastened at one end to one of the slides 45 and at the other end to the bar 12. Each of the members 47 and 59 is provided with a strap such as 60 which is fastened to the member 47 or the member 59 as the case may be, and which extends above one end of the cross piece 57 making a socket into which the end of the cross piece rests but from which it may be moved. Normally the end of the cross piece 57 is held in the socket formed by the strap 60 by means of springs which are indicated at 61 and 62, respectively, the spring 61 being fastened at one end to a bar 63 which'is fixed to and projects laterally from the member 47. The other end of the spring 61 is fastened to the cross piece 57 as shown at 64. In a similar way spring 62 is fastened at one end to the bar 58 and at the other end to the cross piece 57 as indicated at points 63 and 64%, respectively. The upper surface of the cross piece 57 is provided with two parallel flanges 6565 which provide a groove or guideway for a roller 66 which is mounted onthe lower end of the, shaft 67, the upper end of said shaft being carried by a crosshead 68 mounted in guides 69 on the vertical face of one of the longitudinal sills such as 70. The crosshead 68 is also connected to two links 71 and 72, the opposite ends of which connect to cranks 73 and 74 which are fastened on shafts 7 5 and 76 at the opposite ends of which are the levers 77 and 78 which have pivotal connection at the points79 and 80 with the doors 5 and 6 previously mentioned.

From the foregoing the operation of the doors will be clear. Due to the fact that 57 is mounted at an angle with 47, when the latter is carried outwardly by 87, the roller 66 will be pushed toward the front of the car thus sliding 68 in the guide 69, and operating the links 71 and 72 so as to operate the doors in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the cross piece 57. When the steps are wide open the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, but when the steps are drawn inwardly the parts assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, thus closing the doors as in Fig. 2. Two slots 8181 are'provided to compensate for the radial movement of thelevers 7 '7 and 78. The springs 61 and 62 serve two purposes, one of which is to prevent injury to a p'assengers body if a portion of it should come between the door and the j amb, the step movement and the roller taking their full travel but the springs would give enough to allow the doors to stay partly opened. However, the moment the obstruction is removed from between the doors and the jamb, the springs act to close them. The other purpose is to make the doors close slightly slower than the steps, thus preventing them from slamming and jarring.

The moment the cross member 5P st either way, the first action, instead of acti positively on the roller 66, is to extend the spring; Then when the action of the air provided the mechanism shown in Figs. 13

and 15. positioned on the partition between the con du'ctors cage and the passenger compart-' ment of the car 1. To the plate 82 is fastened a strap 83, a portion of which extends beyond one edge of the plate 82 and is notched as is shown at 84.. 85 is a link which is pivoted to the plate 82 at the point 86 and which is also notched in a manner complementary to the strap 83 at the point 87 Thelink 88 is pivoted to the link 85 at 88 i pivoted in turnto a link 89 which is pivoted to the plate 82 at the point 90 which is approximately at right angles to the end of link 85 which connects to the link 88. It will be seen consequently that the links 88 and 89 form a toggle adapted to operate the link 85 and I provide arod 91 which is connected to the pivotal point between the links 88 and 89 for the purpose of operating the toggle and the link 85. The rod 91 extends to a connection with a bell lever 92,

the otherend 93 of which is adapted to be in front'of the jamb in the path of one of the doors such as 5. The plate 82 is provided with a lug 94:, while the bar 91 hasa collar 95 fixed thereon and between the lugs 94 and collar 95 I providea spring 96 which is normally in compression and the'operation ofwhich is to throw the rod 91 to the right as shown in Fig. 14 soas to clamp the bell rope 97 between the link 85 and the strap 83. When, however, the door 5 is thrown into a closed position, the end 93 will be pressed to the rightin Fig. 15 by the door and thus operate the bell lever 92 to overcome the force of the spring against the rod 91 and relieve the bell rope 97 so that a signal may be given if desired.

In case the air operated mechanism becomes disarranged I provide hand operated means for opening and closing the doors and operating the steps. Such mechanism This consists of a plate 82 which is the end opposite the notch 87 and the link comprises a vertical rod 9, previously men tioned, which is squared at the top for the purpose of receiving a handle lever such as 97. The lower end of the rod 9 is fixed to a horizontal lever 98 which is pivotally connected at the point 99 to a link 100 which extends inwardly and is pivotally connected to the inner end of the rod 12 at the point 101.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that as the handle 102 is positioned inside of the doorway, and that as the riser 41 is flush beside the car when the steps are drawn in, that no good upward hold can be obtained until the doors are entirely open and the steps entirely out. The riser 41 is provided with the end 41 in order to prevent the possibility of passengers mounting the tread 10 at the ends of the steps.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto but contemplate all modifications and rearrangements thereof as may be mechanically equivalent to the form shown and described herein.

Having thus shown and described my invention, what I claim is g 1. In a car in combination, a cylinder, a piston for said cylinder, one or more steps, mountings for said steps adapted to slide transversely of the car, connections between said piston and the steps, means for admitting fluid on either side of said piston as desired, a riser for said steps, slidable mountings for said riser, connections for operating said riser mountings from said piston, said connections being adapted to cause said riser to lag behind the movement of said steps in either direction.

2. In a car in combination,a cylinder, a piston for said cylinder, one or more steps, mountings for said steps adapted to slide transversely of the car, connections between said piston and the steps, one or more doors, connections between said doors and said piston, means for admitting fluid on either side of said piston as desired, a riser for said steps, slidable mountings for said riser, connections for operating said riser mountings from said piston, said connections being adapted to cause said riser to lag behind the movement of said steps in either direction.

8. In a car in combination, a slidable frame, one or more steps supported and carried by said frame, a riser for said steps, and a support for said riser having slidable connection with said frame.

4. In a car in combination, a slidable frame, one or more steps supported and carried by said frame, a riser for said steps,

and a support for said riser having slidable connection with said frame, and means for locking said support in its innermost position. V

5. In a car in combination, a slidable frame, one or more steps supported and carried by said frame, a riser for said steps, a support for said riser having slidable connection with said frame, means for locking said support in its innermost position, and means for releasing said support after said frame has moved outwardly a certain distance.

6. In a car in combination, a slidable frame, a pair of steps carried by said frame, a riser'for said steps, a support for said riser having slidable connection with said frame, a car body on which said frame is mounted, and means for dropping said riser approxi mately in alinement with the side of the car body.

7 In a car in combination a slidable frame, a pair of steps, carried by said frame, a riser for said steps, a support for said riser having slidable connection with said frame, a carbody on which said frame is mounted, means for dropping said riser approximately in alinement with the side of the car body, and means for locking said riser when in alinement with the car body.

8. In a car in combination, a slidable frame, a pair of steps carried by said frame, a riser for said steps, one or more supporting members for said riser having slidable connection with said frame, the inner ends of said supporting members being bent upwardly into a substantially vertical position, a stop adapted to contact with the inner ends of said supporting members to limit the inward travel thereof, a pivoted lever having its ends formed into a hook adapted to lock said vertical ends, and a lug carried by said frame for throwing said lever into and out of the locking position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KING.

Witnesses:

ROBERT WV. TURNER, EDNA BROYLES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

